Music is inarguably one of the most important tools a college student can have in their arsenal. It’s useful when you’re feeling sad and want a pick-me-up, a great instrument for motivating you to work out and, best of all, irreplaceable for aiding with paying attention when studying.
Not all types of music fit while studying, so this list of best study albums may seem biased towards people that like classical music, jazz, and other melodic genres.
Yoko Kanno & The Seatbelts – “Cowboy Bebop”
If you’ve watched the anime, then perhaps you can join us in appreciating the absolute mastery that is the soundtrack of Cowboy Bebop. Often switching from Jazz to blues to rock & roll when you least expect it, this soundtrack is one of the most amazing things to happen to television.
Don’t believe us? IGN voted it the greatest anime soundtrack of all time in 2006, and nobody should be surprised why. It features songs like “Rush” and “Piano Black,” both Jazz classics from the 20s and 30s.
Considering how long the series is, there’s a little bit of something for every genre out there – from female vocals to rap. The composition, choice of music and, best of all, the diversity, make this the best movie soundtrack for studying of all time.
Stranger Things volumes 1 & 2, Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein
For most people, Stranger Things is just a hit series that caught a lot of the world unaware. For a lot of others, it’s a voyage into the nostalgia of growing up in the 80s and what it was like being a kid back then. The show doesn’t always do a good job at it, but what it does and does well is execute an amazing soundtrack.
Executive producer Kyle Dixon manages to capture the imagination with amazing tracks like the iconic “Where’s Barb?” from season 2. It remains one of the best movie soundtracks for studying. Its position strengthened by the fact that it ranked second on the top 40 charts.
The Monkeys in The Zoo Have More Fun Than Me, Jape
If you think the name of the album is quirky, just wait till you hear the songs. This album is brought to you by electronic group Jape. The best study songs are those that don’t focus too much on the lyrics, so they don’t distract you.
Even for those that prefer to listen to music rather than study, perhaps relying on high-quality custom dissertation help services instead, this album is a doozy. The same service that does the dissertation can also help you with thesis, college essays and term paper writing.
The lead singer’s voice is oddly melodic. If you don’t often listen to Indie, you might loathe it at first, only for it to grow on you later. It’s much more difficult to dislike lead singer Richie Egan’s voice than you’d think, despite any initial reservations.
A combination of a riveting vibe and spread out vocals make this another one of our best study albums. Exam revision or essay writing, it doesn’t matter. You need your ears flooded with their sounds.
A Love Supreme, John Coltrane
If you’ve never liked Jazz, now would be an excellent time to start your foray into this lovely genre of music. There’s nobody better to start out with than John Coltrane, one of the most legendary Jazz musicians of all time.
It then follows that one of the best Jazz albums of all time is also one of the best albums to study to. A great combination of saxophone and supporting percussion instruments, few a duo can be as relaxing as John Coltrane and Elvin Jones.
Miles Davis – “Kind of Blue”
If you’re not a fan of Coltrane’s, Miles Davis provides a much gentler introduction to the world of Jazz. The album is filled with mellow baselines and an amazing combination of piano work and the trumpet. This album maybe 50+ years old, but still retains the machismo, inspiration, and confidence of Miles Davis all these years later.
What makes this album unique is its abandonment of the familiar. It doesn’t have the same kind of fast-paced action that Coltrane got us used to or mimic the works of other greats.
It’s an album that can stand on its own and inspire others to stand high and tall on its shoulders. If Coltrane doesn’t suit your fancy, nobody will ambush you for claiming this is the greatest Jazz album of all time, either.
Conclusion
Our taste in music is as varied as the number of songs we can bear in a single day. And yet, all of that falls apart when it comes to studying. Almost everyone has the same ideal for what songs are great for studying and which ones should be reserved for house parties and clubs.
Good study music doesn’t have a beat that’s too fast or lyrics that want to carry you away into another dimension. It should be relaxed enough to strengthen your concentration, not want you to pay attention to the words. If you can, pick up a Jazz album by Davis or Coltrane. It might be the best decision of your life.
Author Bio:
Robert Everett is a highly-experienced academic writer, editor and a technology blogger. He also provides online classes to college students who want to become professional writers and journalists. He runs a music blog on the side as it happens to be his biggest love. In his free time, he watches TV, reads fiction and plays tennis.
